Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedans/Saloons
2006 Buick Lucerne CXS: In the Autoblog Garage Day 1-2
The new 2006 Buick Lucerne is a very large car, which is a good thing considering it has mighty large shoes to fill. It not only replaces the LeSabre in Buick’s lineup but also pinch hits for the now defunct Park Avenue. This means that the Lucerne’s price cuts a wide swath, with the entry level CX beginning at $25,990 and our range topping CXS tester starting at $34,990.
From this it’s apparent that the Lucerne was designed to compete on many different levels. Where the LeSabre fought tooth and nail for the middle class family sedan dollar, the Park Avenue went after luxo-cruiser cash. The Lucerne must attract attention from both types of clientele if it’s to be considered a successful replacement. We were handed the keys to an executive class CXS and plan to find out over the next week whether the Lucerne can fill both of Buick’s vacant shoes.
As we said earlier, the Lucerne CXS starts at $34,990 and comes out of the box with the venerable Northstar V8 that produces 275 hp and 295 ft-lbs. of torque. Our tester was fitted with a few upscale options like premium paint (Sharkskin, $995); a Driver Confidence package with remote start, theft deterrent and parking assist ($595); heated and cooled front seats ($500); a 6-disc CD changer ($300) and heated washer fluid ($100). With those niceties checked off the price of our Lucerne went up to the not insignificant sum of $36,755.
The first thought we had was wondering how a sedan that starts around $26K could compete in the clouds with such FWD entry-level luxury cars as the Lexus ES330 and Toyota Avalon. Toyota’s power players are the two vehicles most often mentioned in the same breath as the Lucerne, and rightly so as all three compete for a curious group of consumers that values aesthetics over acceleration, plushness over performance and cushiness over captivating handling.
The Lucerne at once arrests its audience with exterior styling that is elegant in form and restrained in execution. Cladding of any form has been banished from this Buick’s skin, leaving a tightly wrapped layer of Sharkskin-colored sheetmetal around this large sedan’s body. It’s an austere shape that looks as if it could swap silhouettes with an Infiniti Q45. The rear end from dead on reminds us of the last generation Audi A8.
The Lucerne’s design would be well received regardless of which automaker’s badge it was wearing, but the fact it sprung from GM’s No. 2 pencils makes it more impressive. This is not to say that Buicks of the recent past have been ugly (save the Skylark), just forgettable. In our eyes the Lucerne, however, would easily garner more glances on the street than the new edge Avalon and swollen ES330.
Devoid of any visual frivolity the Lucerne’s design impresses with details like the smart looking halogen projection fog lamps embedded in the two lower intakes, the 18-inch 10-spoke aluminum wheels, the conservative use of chrome trim to frame the windows and, of course, those port holes.
The front fenders of the CXS are flanked with four port holes each, signifying the eight cylinders of the Northstar V8 beating underhood. Lucernes with a V6 get only three vents per side, which is sure to cause port hole-envy for those owners who notice.
The leanness of the Lucerne’s shape can ironically be credited to the car’s dimensions, which are XXL. In a quick comparison of the Lucerne’s dimensions with the Ford Five-Hundred, Acura RL, Lexus ES330 and Toyota Avalon, we see that the Lucerne boasts the longest length at 203.2 inches and biggest wheelbase at 115.6 inches. With a width of 73.8 inches, however, those dimensions combine to make the car look long, thin and low. It’s the shape you’d expect of something that traverses lengthy interstates with more ease than it tackles the twisties, something like a freight train for the highway.
Any and all flattery earned by the Lucerne’s exterior in this first part of our review is in reality deserved, and you should know they are not being typed by the hands of someone with a permanent seat on GM’s bandwagon. In fact, this scribe has been accused of being a “GM basher” more often than being someone who knows what he’s talking about. So it’s with a bit of humility that Day 1-2 of this review comes to a close.
We’re nowhere near done going over the Lucerne’s faults and fine points. We haven’t cracked a door yet to see what the vehicle’s inner sanctum has to offer, nor have we turned its key and mashed the gas. Can Buick’s super-size sedan maintain its momentum as we go forward? It’s been a long time since the Buick brand has fielded a player that could compete well in the big league of large cars, and the Lucerne needs to be an all-star here. Tune in the rest of this week to find out if it makes contact or misses completely with the masses.
[Click sticker above to enlarge]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Karesh 12:15PM (3/07/2006)
I reviewed one of these a few weeks ago here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_218766675588
Your reviews make me wish I could insert photos in my own.
This design cuts both ways. It has a strong Passat / G35 flavor from the rear quarter, which should broaden the car's appeal. But Buick loyalists don't see anything familiar. So they risk falling between two stools like Olds did with the Aurora.
Drives very well considering the intended market. The only major change I'd like to see is a six-speed automatic, which should be available in the next year or two.
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LoneWolf 12:16PM (3/07/2006)
Except the Headlights, a very elegant Car :)
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Steve B 12:25PM (3/07/2006)
Looks like someone loved it so much they shot it 4 times in the fender. It looks as stupid on here as on the Audi Quadraporte from which they aped it. (Yes, I know that they had portholes in the garish tacky 50's, but they had long abandoned them before Bobby Putz copped them from Audi after seeing the QP at a carshow).
Aside from the hillarious tranny choice and the awful styling, it looks mechanically good. Still, when you're playing stylistic catchup to a Toyota Avalon, something is terribly wrong.
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mj10990 12:37PM (3/07/2006)
I have to disagree on one point-the nose is just plain ugly. The rest of the car is delightfully elegant. A vast improvement over earlier Buicks.
Buick is making progress. When buying my most recent vehicle I considered Buick far enough to get to the website. They didn't get me in the door for a test-drive, but even I was surprised that for a moment I thought of it...
Buick seems to be heading in the right direction. Now if they could just give this car a face lift...
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Richard Warren 12:41PM (3/07/2006)
Evident in these photos and even more in person is the very good body fit and finish on the car.
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Bob Miller 12:44PM (3/07/2006)
I looked at a Lucerne a few months ago for fun. Not a bad car at all. It's a little pricey, and it definitely needs the 6 spd. automatic and a little more horsepower, but overall, it's nice.
I've even heard it's outselling the Avalon nationwide. Although it must be doing it in different markets than where I live (probably in Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, etc...) because I see WAY more Avalons here in Houston. I've only seen a handful of new Lucernes (all of them white, perhaps I'm seeing the same one over and over, hehehehe?)
At the end of the day though, from what I can tell, it needs a little more punch from the V8, and it's still too expensive. Remember, GM has to get these buyers *back*, and price is the only way that will happen. Offer this thing fully loaded, give the V8 a proper 300 hp. rating (minium, maybe even more), 6 spd. with standard everything (nav screen, bluetooth, etc., etc.) and give it a $30k to $32k sticker, and they'll be selling well in every market, perhaps even in markets where they've lost some important ground, like Houston and the West Coast.
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SoloTwo 1:12PM (3/07/2006)
#2, way to show your automotive expertise, There is no such thing as an "Audi Quattroporte", its called a Maserati Quattroporte. And if anything Maserati stole it from Buick which was used during the 50's.
http://seriouswheels.com/1950-1959/1955-Buick-Roadmaster-Jay-Leno-FA-Speed-1024x768.htm
Once you KNOW something about anything, then I believe you can comment on something that you think is "stupid". Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
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Matt Keegan 1:24PM (3/07/2006)
For a car sharing much with the Cadillac DTS, the Lucerne is a lot of car for the money. Yep, the six speed automatic would be nice and the car is terrific departure from the Roadmaster.
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Paul 1:25PM (3/07/2006)
this car does look alot like the Maserati. I think it shows the continued lack of imagination and original thinking from the americans.
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Michael Karesh 1:43PM (3/07/2006)
Aside from the holes in the fender this car looks NOTHING like the Maserati. Very different proportions and much leaner forms.
The portholes were on the Park Avenue beginning in 2003. Before that they were on some 1980s Buicks.
One thing this review doesn't note is how much better the car looks in CXS trim owing to larger wheels and the foglights that help disguise the massive front overhang. In base trim the car looks pretty bad.
The price can be compared with the related DTS at my site, http://www.truedelta.com. For such similar cars, the prices are quite far apart.
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Katz 2:15PM (3/07/2006)
Brand no good so won't buy the car.
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iamhoff 2:31PM (3/07/2006)
Outside of the 4 doors and the vents on the fenders, the Maser and the Lucerne do not look alike, unless you've been chemically "enhancing" your daily existence. I think the Lucerne is a car GM can be proud of. It knows what market it's aimed at, and it seems to be well styled and equipped (6 speed tranny notwithstanding) to take that market on. Very nicely, if not conservatively styled, and every time I catch a glance at one from the rear I need to do a double take to confirm whether it's a Passat/Phaeton/A8 or not. Nicely done. The only nit I have to pick so far is with the article. The trim package is "CXS", not "CSX" as was noted. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to the next updates.
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David 3:31PM (3/07/2006)
Where I work there are about 3 thousand cars in the parking lot. 4 cars make me stop and look each time and say hmmmmm. The Toyota 4-Runner, the GTO (new & old), the 350Z and the Buick Lucerne.
God I want a GTO...but I got a family to haul around...and the Lucerne stops me in my tracks everytime.
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RossL 3:35PM (3/07/2006)
I must be getting old, because I like the look of this thing. But WOW is it expensive, especially up here in Canada. GM doesn't seem to have adjusted pricing to take account of the current exchange rate. Anyway, if I was paying that much, I'd be looking seriously for AWD. Or is this another case where (wink wink) the car can be had for many thousands below sticker?
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Waldo 3:42PM (3/07/2006)
"Devoid of any visual frivolity........and, of course, those port holes."
Did anyone else find this funny? Seriously, no Buicks for me until they do away with the portholes. They have enough design problems as it is without that addition.
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talis 3:50PM (3/07/2006)
I kinda wish Buick would go all the way with the styling and add the fender crese that was sported on alsmost all buicks up through the 1970's. you can see from these picks where the crese came from, and how it can be reaplied to the new cars. Also the bowtie rear end from the 71 riv would be a nice touch for a Kappa based convert or a coupe from the zeta platforms. (yes, that would be some form of badge eningeenering, but thats a fact of life)
http://www.hemmings.com/images/dealers/maine/hires/48chev%20018.jpg
http://www.hemmings.com/images/dealers/marshall/hires/DSC03654.JPG
http://www.hemmings.com/images/dealers/brandon/hires/71riv3.jpg
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RossL 3:53PM (3/07/2006)
> But WOW is it expensive
Make that WWWWOOOOWWWW.
Just had a look at gmcanada.com. A CSX with a few pretty ordinary options (paint, sunroof, all-weather pgk, 6 CD) adds up to .... C$48K!!!! For a FWD 4 spd-auto, that's plain nuts.
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RossL 4:15PM (3/07/2006)
And as for those portholes, some of you might find the history interesting:
http://www.2blowhards.com/archives/002389.html
Re: the Maserati Quattroporte ... Quattroporte is Italian for four-door, of course. According to Motor Trend, the Buick-like fender portholes on the current MQ "pay homage to similarly ventilated Maserati A6 Berlinetta Speciale of 1947." So who knows - perhaps Buick *did* copy Maserati way back when. But it seems more likely that Buick was going for aircraft-like styling cues.
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Mr.x2000 5:12PM (3/07/2006)
OMG, the bastards stole my '02 Concorde and put 'portholes' on the fenders!
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Mr.x2000 5:14PM (3/07/2006)
Checkout this beautiful Chrysler!!!
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/776295
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